Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-12-20
AN ENGLlSHMEN'S VIEW.
Hnrbcrism in England and America Com
pared to the Credit of England.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Dec S.-The ancient and
honorable art-science Of barberoloSy (who
dare call it a mere trade9 is more lucra-
tive to its American than to its English
professors AS a grumbling Britisher,
prefer the institution in my native land.
Because l am q mere customer, mark you.
If l were learned professor you would
hear me decaim ''Hail Columbian Tho
clipping shears of the British barber arc
satisfied if they get fnir crop for u liveli-
hood but Professors Sam or Alphonse, of
New York, fairly fleece the victim. But
he likes it, and values his shearing in pro-
portion to its cost and duration, and this
is how the states have become the para
disc Of the peruquier and the ''tonsorial
OPERATOR
Let Us compare notes. Leaving out the
lildcd salons where millionaire BARRIERS
gracicusly condesccnd to accept your pat
ronage at their own price, | will speak Of
the typical place where men of moderate
means go, men who cat q fifty or sixty
cent lunch. The English BARRIERS shop is
fitted up much rs in America, except that
the custom of having private shaving pots
is not so general In some London shops
there are lockers for tho use of those who
join the 'toilet club mostly dudes. If
you want to be cXtrayagaut you can so to
those gilded salons where twelve cents arc
charged for n shave, but sensible men
find the very best treatment they could
desire, and in handsomely fitted rooms,
for six cents. The clerk class of Gus
toners do not need to pay more than four
cents, and labOrcrS never think Of giving
more than two. | have seen q good many
shaving shops in Lancashire and York
shire where they give "a Clean scrape for
q ha'pcnny,' which is one cent, and in
my juvenile days ! several times prr-
CEASED the sweet boon Of shave by
tonsorial angel in petticoat5, price two
whole cents! Why don't girls take to the
dainty art?
AS to hair cutting, you never pay moro
than twelve cents in the best shops in Eng
lish towns, including the most brilliant sci
entiilc discourses on the state of the weather
and dandruif eradication by the hour, you
like. AS was FESTIVE under these inilic-
lions, which ones sense Of politeneSs and
dread of cold steel induce one to submit
to, | have always sought out some select
resort in n good ncighborhCod on the out
skirts Of the cities. III these you get elc-
giant appointments, superior attendants
and less hustle and rush, and for good
many years never was charged more than
eight cents. The practice of giving your
man personal tip of two or four cents is
not Il very great sin, but it is never en-
pected IS due. NJ experiences with
New York BARRIERS have been less salts
factory. The abominahlc waste of TIME
in going over your poor pate over and over
again, when once ought to do, is enough
to knock all the remnant Of SaintlncsS
clean out Of your lcng suffering nature,
and when you have to fork out twenty
five cents to match waste of time with
waste of money it moves you to roar, "Oh,
that mine barber were under my tonsorial
torture for just five minuteS!n
The English barber provides you with
more literature and shows you more at
tcntiUu with less business than his Amer
lean cousin. lie will shampoo you for
twelve cents, and You can any time pop in
and have good wash, with Il new towel
for YOURSELF and brush up,n with hat
brush, nail brush and clothes brush of
honest bristies, for four cents. The de-
lusiVc ana nap running whisli broom is
unknown thcre.
The assistants earn from Sc to 50 per
week on the average, exclusive of tips. but
these wages go G3 fer rs $40 and SD 90
in New York. Tire Germans have pulled
down the barbcra' wages in England
They live moro chcaply and have fewer
vices. perhaps. have hcca in the hands
Of quite Il number who iUy returned from
America, having found the higher wages
there handicapped by the differences in
service anl in cost of living. II may be-
but very WronEly-put Gown to niscrli-
ness, but | really cannot see why the
simple act Of CGtkinG Il mans hair every
three weeks should cost Il quarter time.
OsCAR LYNN.